Televangelist/author
Hal Lindsey poses with his wife Jolynn at the Hal
Lindsey Discerning The TimesOur World Through
The Eyes of Prophecy seminar, Centre of Excellence,
Macoya, Tunapuna, recently. He is the author of
Faith For the Final Hour.

Cover
of book.

A
cross-section of local pastors and reverends attend the
Hal Lindsey conference.

Photos:
Lester Forde

By
Michelle Loubon

Bears claw, alligators tooth, bats heart,
a scarab beetle, jade money bag on a charm bracelet are
all examples of good luck charms. A Gideon New Testament
joins the exhaustive list.

California based televangelist/author Hal Lindsey said his
good luck charm...the New Testament he carried in
his pocket, pointed his way to Jesus Christ.

He made this disclosure at the Hal Lindsey Discerning The
TimesOur World Through The Eyes of Prophecy seminar,
at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna, recently.

Former president ANR Robinson, UNC political leader Winston
Dookeran and attorney John Jeremie who delivered the feature
address were also present.

I
remembered I always carried a good luck charm. A New Testament
that was given to me by one of the people in the area when
I was a boy. I started reading it. First I read the Gospels,
then I read the Sermon on the Mount, said Lindsey.

Tracing his conversion to Christianity, Lindsey said he
turned to his good luck charm because there was a deep yearning
for something new...what to do for an encore.

As a young man, he dropped out of the University of Houston
to serve in the Korean War. Later, he found work as a Mississippi
River tugboat captain.

I
thought I had the life any young man would have. I spent
so much time in the bars. I decided to become a bar tender
on weekends, chuckled Lindsey.

At some point, the carousing didnt suffice.

I
began to experience deep yearnings. What to do for an encore?
Nothing seemed to satisfy me anymore.

I
began to question what is the purpose of life?

Soon, he visited a number of churches, but, the catechisms
were directed to a special lady. He wondered, why
do they have to pray to her. I was troubled. I read Timothy
(New Testament). It said just as there is one God there
is one mediator.

I started reading John. I realised those who believed Jesus
Christ and received him would have eternal life.

He resigned himself to the Lord.

I
said, Lord show me the way, said Lindsey. Since his
conversion, via his lucky charm, Lindsey entered
Dallas Theological Seminary in 1958. He graduated with a
degree in theology. In 1969, he wrote his first book, The
Late Great Planet Earth.

He went on to author over 20 best selling books, with a
total of over 47 million copies sold. Among his collection
were Satan is Alive and Well On Planet Earth; Theres
a New World Coming; The 1980s: Countdown to Armageddon;
The Final Battle; The Terminal Generation; Planet Earth:
The Final Chapter; Rapture; Apocalypse Code; and, the most
recent, The Everlasting Hatred: The Roots of Jihad.

Accompanied by his wife Jolynn, the father of five daughters
has travelled throughout the world expounding on his works.

He deals with a major themeBible prophecyin
the context of the current global situation.

It
is an exciting time to be alive. These are the climactic
days of the end of the church. Mankind is at the threshold.
Something extraordinary is in the making. Never before have
things accelerated to this point. If you go from culture
to culture, you can get culture shock.

Things
are changing rapidly. There is a terrible depth to the anxiety.
There are many dangers that face this generation,
said Lindsey.

Then, Lindsey chose Matthew 24 as his text. Lindsey proceeded
to speak on Dan Browns Da Vinci Code, describing it
as the biggest fraud in history. He also touched
the Gospel of Judas, which attempted to challenge the tenets
of Christianity.

He cited statistics on tribulations like pestilence, plagues,
earthquakes, wars and famines which have been stalking nations.

The
20th century saw more people being killed through warfare
than in all the centuries put together, said Lindsey.

Nation
will rise against nation.

In Croatia, the ethnic hatred is beyond belief. In Thailand,
Britain, India, Pakistan the ethnic hatred would rise again.
Africa is a continent ravaged by ethnic hatred, added
Lindsey. He called on the people to stay rooted in Jesus
Christ.

Places
that were once greatly blessed by God are throwing it away
and there is a great falling away.

Noting, it was impossible to escape what was coming, he
predicted great things ahead for T&T.

Earlier on, Lindsey had met with Prime Minister Patrick
Manning.

Blessed
is the nation that seeks after righteousness. I spent time
with your PM. I was overjoyed to hear him confess his faith
in Jesus Christ. I was thrilled to find out he understood
Bible prophecy. When a nation is led by a man who fears
God that nation will be blessed. Blessed is the nation that
seeks after righteousness, said Lindsey.

Then, he offered some practical advice.

Learn
the word of the God. It is faith for the final hour.

After his discourse, Lindsey reiterated blessings are in
store for T&T.

There
are real blessings in store for the country. There are a
great many people here who are true Christians. God is blessing
your nation.

Similar to old Testament patriarch Abraham who received
the blessing of a son Jacob in his old age, 72-year-old
Lindsey predicts a great deal more labouring in the Lords
vineyard.